broadly

[ brawd-lee ]

adverb

1. across a wide area:

   Seismologists say the earthquake was broadly felt because the hard granite in the area of the epicenter strongly conducts ground motion.

2. to a great extent; widely:

   Which of these principles and values do you think are the most broadly shared by your neighbors?

3. to a similar extent; generally:

   Production is expected to be broadly in line with last year’s, setting us up for another record harvest.

4. in a widely diffused or bright manner:

   The curtains opened, revealing several characters milling about on a broadly lit stage.

5. in a way that is not limited, narrow, or overly specific:

   Network-connected computers are broadly categorized as either servers or workstations.

6. in a plain, clear, or bold manner:

   She knew immediately that the broadly scrawled handwriting on the note was her brother’s.

   Most of the people in these photographs are grinning broadly and looking directly into the camera.

Word History and Origins

Origin of broadly¹

broad ( def ) + -ly

Example Sentences

But it is too early to tell if the changes he helped unleash will prove sustainable, or if they will broadly serve our citizenry.

From The Daily Beast

More broadly, the media as a whole were afraid to break ranks.

From The Daily Beast

With such broadly defined legislation, playing by the rules may not be worth the risk for some companies.

From The Daily Beast

Interpreted more broadly, the phrase loses meaning: what constitutes the necessary threshold of realism?

From The Daily Beast

He clumsily sipped from the dainty straw of a blasphemously non-bourbon beverage and smiled broadly as he talked to fellow bros.

From The Daily Beast

Broadly speaking, the new money will be altogether too good to meet this particular need.

From Project Gutenberg

But speaking broadly, consumption goods, present or future, are the end in sight of the industrial struggle.

From Project Gutenberg

Within the sunbonnets were three equally rosy faces, of varying sizes, each smiling broadly and each full of a friendly curiosity.

From Project Gutenberg

He was engaged in telling some bit of pioneer reminiscence—something broadly pleasant.

From Project Gutenberg

The display consists of the Royal arms, well and broadly defined, with a crown above them, and a lion above all.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• commonly
• customarily
• largely
• mostly
• normally
• ordinarily
• publicly
• roughly
• typically
• universally
• usually
• widely